Physicians who are certified in family practice and psychiatry: who are they and how do they use their combined skills?

BACKGROUND The American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) have jointly established their guidelines for a combined residency training program in family practice-psychiatry. As the new combined programs develop, it is of interest to learn about those physicians who are already board certified in both family practice and psychiatry. METHODS The ABFP provided a list of the 39 physicians in the United States who in 1995 held certification by both the ABFP and the ABPN. A questionnaire eliciting demographic data, information on practice patterns, and comments was mailed to each of them. RESULTS Ninety percent of the physicians responded. Sixty percent reported that they practice both family medicine and psychiatry, 20 percent practice in communities with a population of 30,000 or less, and the great majority were very satisfied with their choice of specialties. CONCLUSION The responding family physician-psychiatrists chose their specialties one at a time, in sequence. Although their practice patterns are interesting, we believe residents who select a combined residency will have different practice patterns, choosing to practice both specialties from the outset. After graduates of these newly emerging combined residencies have entered practice, it will be useful to study how they make use of their combined skills.